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White House gun push narrows to background checks

President Barack Obama unveiled a broad array of new gun control proposals last week, but already his administration has narrowed the main force of their effort behind just one: universal background checks. …

Polls show of all that the president proposed — including a new assault weapons ban and a ban on high-capacity magazines — universal background checks is the one the widest majority of Americans back. Now Obama and Biden are seeking to mobilize that support and reassure wary gun owners that weapons bans won’t be the first priority.

The White House is going to great lengths to describe background checks as a response with broad, bipartisan support — a message the vice president carried to a roundtable with administration officials at Virginia Commonwealth University and stressed to reporters afterward.

“There should be universal background checks, universal background checks,” Biden said. “It in no way impacts upon someone’s ability under the Constitution to own a gun. Zero, zero. It’s enforcing a law – some folks say, ‘Look, just enforce the laws that are on the books.’ Well, the first step to do that is put a law on the books that says all those folks that have adjudicated incapable of owning a gun under the law, make sure we have access to their names. That’s why there is a need for universal background checks.”

Blowback

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Eventually the Official Line will become “We always meant to concentrate simply on keeping E-11 Stormtrooper blaster carbines out of the civilian market. Oh…lightsabers too. And we have accomplished that with raging success. Forward!”

How exactly does that work? Most private citizens can’t really run a background check on people they might want to sell a gun to. Would that mean that all firearm transactions have to go through a middleman that can do a background check, or do we end up with some kind of firearm licensing or certification kind of system?

Whatever these clowns settle upon as far as gun control is concerned won’t do a damn thing to stop the next maniac who decides to steal a relative’s guns, shoot the relative in the face, and then go shoot up an elementary school or playground. Background checks won’t do much against somebody who has no problem with stealing guns instead of buying them through a licensed gun dealer.

How exactly does that work? Most private citizens can’t really run a background check on people they might want to sell a gun to. Would that mean that all firearm transactions have to go through a middleman that can do a background check, or do we end up with some kind of firearm licensing or certification kind of system?

Count to 10 on January 26, 2013 at 8:15 AM

They are Libiots, you really don’t expect them to think things through, do you?

A deranged manic steals his mom’s guns, shoots her in the face, and then shoots 20 innocent children and out government’s response is to make law abiding gun owners jump through endless hoops and eventually be disarmed.

A deranged manic steals his mom’s guns, shoots her in the face, and then shoots 20 innocent children and out government’s response is to make law abiding gun owners jump through endless hoops and eventually be disarmed.

Molon Labe

trs on January 26, 2013 at 8:51 AM

And not a word about fixing the one thing that allowed him to kill so many without fear of interruption: “gun free” zones.

And what is their solution for 81% of the guns used in crimes that were sourced by illegal/unconventional means? Oh that’s right, they don’t have one. Liberalism–we write “feel good” legislation, who cares if it addresses a da*n thing.

Polls show of all that the president proposed — including a new assault weapons ban and a ban on high-capacity magazines — universal background checks is the one the widest majority of Americans back.

Apparently they didn’t poll anyone in Virginia. This bill, among others, will be voted by the House on Monday. Every Democrat sponsored bill(over half a dozen) that would have further limited gun sales/ownership was soundly defeated in committee and will never see the light of day.

House Bill 2340, sponsored by Delegate Bob Marshall (R-17) would prevent any agency, political subdivision, or employee of Virginia from assisting the Federal government in any way that infringes on the individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms by imposing new restrictions on private ownership or private transfer of firearms, firearm magazines, ammunition, or components thereof. (H.B. 2340 was reported by a 15-7 vote)

House Bill 2340, sponsored by Delegate Bob Marshall (R-17) would prevent any agency, political subdivision, or employee of Virginia from assisting the Federal government in any way that infringes on the individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms by imposing new restrictions on private ownership or private transfer of firearms, firearm magazines, ammunition, or components thereof. (H.B. 2340 was reported by a 15-7 vote)

Oldnuke on January 26, 2013 at 9:16 AM

Kind of like sanctuary cities — except that regulating immigration is a federal responsibility, while firearms are something that the federal government is supposed to be explicitly prohibited from touching.

‘Look, just enforce the laws that are on the books.’ Well, the first step to do that is put a law on the books that says all those folks that have adjudicated incapable of owning a gun under the law, make sure we have access to their names.

Huh? So, you enforce the laws on the books by putting a new law on the books.

It seems we need to re-read Alinsky and use his methods.
“But making people show ID is disenfranchising them and an undo burden on American citizens! We can’t expect poor inner city dwellers to go register…” Et al, ad nausium… Rinse lather repeat.

How exactly does that work? Most private citizens can’t really run a background check on people they might want to sell a gun to. Would that mean that all firearm transactions have to go through a middleman that can do a background check, or do we end up with some kind of firearm licensing or certification kind of system?

Count to 10 on January 26, 2013 at 8:15 AM

The parties would either have to meet at a gun store or meet with a private FFL holder to do the paper work.

Under current law, if you are able to meet face-to-face for the transaction, you need to do nothing in terms of paperwork and background checks (although I always have the other party fill out a bill of sale to prove the particulars of the transaction). If you cannot meet fact-to-face, the gun has to be shipped to an FFL, who will require the government documentation and background check.